The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-01-07

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aend that rules miser's soul nippsd
4 him sorely as he did 80.
"They wear sacques q good deal,
Sara. don't theyf he said.
"oh, they are very fashionable" re-
phsd Sara. !,
Then couldn't you make one out
OF that old billiard cloth that is in the
| trnnkroomf" asked Jonas, s'my poor
mother bought it at an auction. She
meant to use it for q coverlet; but it's
q very pretty green, don't you think
so, Sara? and such nice material"
There is q limit to woman's patience;
this suggestion measured Sara's. She
started to her feet and gathering up
ner bonnet and shawl walked out Of
the room. After she had gone Jonas
really looked at his check-book and
for at least two minutes, contemplat-
ed drawing a large check, and telling
his wife he had been teasing her. But
he could not briEg himself to do it.
After awhile his wife looked into the
room with her old bonnet and shawl
on and said:
"Jonas, | am going to spend the day
with my sister.in-law, but / shall be
4 home before dinner time
| u hope you will enjoy yourself, my
dear" said Jonas.
He saw her eyes were heavy with
weaping, and looked away ashamed
OF himself. Then he betook himself
to his office where he ground out his
money and during the day compro-
missed with himself He would do no
extravagant thing, but when he went
home he would give his wife what was
necessary. And after all, as he said
to himself it would have been better
to do it. He had grieved her, and she
was the only thing he loved on earth.
he went home earlier than usual
that evening, to make what amends
his soul would consent to, and as he
walked briskly along, being light upon
his feet yet--for who has ever heard
OF miser growing fat?-he thought
he would never again bring the tears
to those good, kind eyes. Never,
never again, and then-what was that
crowd? People were coming his way,
looking backward as they came. Men,
boys, women, all the rifratf that an
city. And now he was in the midst
OF the throng and close to four police
men, who, with set faces, marched
In time, bearing between them q
stretcher on which lay human
form. 1t was covered d-covered with
q shawl. Jonas looked. Oh heavens!
he knew the pattern of that shawl;
only afew hours before it's dingy palm
leaves OF yellow brown, its faded fringe
its shabby brown center had been
spread out before him. 1t was his
wife's shawl!
"Stop-stop stop!" he cried. 'Let
me see her-let me see her."
DO you know herr" asked a police
man.
Let me see her face" said Jonas,
growing SO faint that kindly man,
near by, supported him by the arm.
You would not know her face; a
telegraph pole fell on her; it is crushed
all out OF shape" said the policeman.
"But shawls are alike; keep up your
courage. / do not think this is any
relation OF yours; she's too shabby.
See here, this is her bonnet, you don't
know that?'
The policeman held up bonnet.
1t was crushed and soaked with blood;
but Jonas knew 1.-THE streaked rib
bon, and q flower among the other
flowers had lost its petals. He had
fingered it as it lay on the table beside
him.
Yes, know It'll" he cried, ''she is
Sara; it's my wife!"
Then he pulled away the shawl from
the crushed face, and tainted outright.
Just as his senses left him he heard
some ono saw.
ellis wife? Why, thought she was
beggar."
And another answered: .Like
enough-they call him miser. /
know him. His name is Jonas Pray"
They carried the poor woman to
Jonas Pray's old house, helping him
to follow, as he became himself. She
was laid upon her bed, and there was
q coroner's inquest and then women
prepared her body for burial, talking
among themselves of theshame it was
I at she, rich mans wife, should be
80 clad; and then their work finished;
they went away, that he might be
alone with her, if he would. But be-
fore the time came he had cab called
and went away in it. He was driven
to a large dry-goods store, where he
asked to see the manager. and was
shown to his Office.
HE has come to beg" thought the
manager; and what can do foryou?"
WAS curt. But Jonas cared nothing
for anyone's manner now. He an
swered, sadly: IL want to buy
shawl"
"a salesman will attend to you,
SIR" said the manager
''No," said Jonas, 81 am too ill, too |
broken to talk to a salesman, / can |
trust you. want the costliest shawl |
you have"
"a madman, thought the manager,
"our costliest Is S5,oOO," said he re-
pressing'a a smile.
"IIave it put up for me-" said Jo-
| mas.
Certainly mad" said the manager
| to himself.
But Jonas had taken check from
his pocket, and with trembling hands
was filling up the blanks.
The manager looked it over
more respectfully. Then it flash
ed upon him that he had read OF
a fatal accident to this mans wife
that day. 1t uas c. strange proceeding,
altogether. Secretly he called others
to look at his customer. One knew
him; financially he was all right.
And the rest Is none OF our busi
ness, said the manager, as he saw
the bundle OF splendor carried down
stairs after Jonas Pray. "They spoke
of him as a miser, in the paper. That
is q pretty purchase for a miser.'
Meanwhile Jonas was driven home.
From the door fioated long streamers
of black Grape. No sweet face smiled
greeting. Carrying the shawl under
| hia arm he went M, stairs to the darE-